Comparisons of antidotal efficacy of chelating drugs upon acute toxicity of Ni(II) in rats.

Six chelating drugs were administered to rats by im injection at equimolar dosages in order to compare their relative effectiveness in prevention of death after a single parenteral injection of NiCl2. Triethylenetetramine and d-penicillamine were most effective antidotes for acute Ni (II)-toxicity. In order of decreasing antidotal effectiveness, diglycyl-L-histidine-N-methylamide, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and calcium disodium versenate significantly reduced the acute mortality of rats following ip injection of Ni (II). Alpha-Lipoic acid was not effective as an antidote for acute Ni (II)-toxicity.